How to Buy a Diamond

by Cuellar, Fred

• ISBN13: 9781570716881
• ISBN10: 1570716889
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc

Summary

Tips on purchasing diamonds are offered in this simple-to-use guide, with sections that cover how to match funds with the perfect diamond, wholesaler's secret pricing guides, ring styles and settings, insuring and caring for diamonds, and more.

Author Biography

Fred Cuellar is one of the world's top diamond experts, as well as a three-time Guinness Book record holder in jewelry design. He is an importer, diamond cutter and jewelry designer committed to simplifying the diamond buying process for consumers

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Foreword	xi
About the Author	xiii
Introduction	xix
The Shortcut	xxiii
B.E.S.T.	xxiv
The 4 C's	1	(50)
Carat Weight	4	(2)
Clarity	6	(14)
Color	20	(7)
Cut	27	(14)
Proportions Made Easy	41	(1)
Proportion and Price	42	(2)
GIA Classes of Cuts	44	(1)
Super Cuts	45	(2)
Proportion Questionnaire Sheet	47	(4)
Cost	51	(24)
Buying Big Diamonds	58	(4)
Buying Shy	62	(7)
To Thine Own Self Be True	69	(5)
Too Good To Be True	74	(1)
Ring Settings	75	(6)
Accents	76	(2)
Adding Color	78	(1)
A Word About Gold...	78	(1)
...And Platinum	79	(2)
Picking the Jeweler	81	(38)
Jeweler Questionnaire Sheet	82	(6)
Bonded Jewelers	88	(2)
The Gift of Jewelry	90	(1)
Gift Questionnaire Sheet	91	(4)
The New York Diamond District	95	(3)
Buying Diamonds on the Internet	98	(8)
To Certify or Not to Certify?	106	(3)
FTC-Regulated Laboratories in the U.S.	109	(3)
Evaluating the Labs	112	(5)
Making the Purchase	117	(2)
Tricks of the Trade	119	(8)
Blue Diamond Blues	119	(1)
The ``50&percent; Off'' sale	119	(1)
Bait and Switch	120	(1)
Is White Really White?	121	(1)
Grade Bumping	121	(1)
The Fraction Scam	122	(1)
The Old Switcheroo	122	(1)
The Sandbagger	123	(1)
The Vanishing Act	124	(1)
The Dirty Dozen	125	(2)
Common Myths About Diamonds	127	(6)
After the Purchase	133	(8)
Insurance	133	(1)
Do's and Don'ts	134	(1)
Some Final Suggestions	135	(1)
Cleaning Your Diamond (And Other Jewels)	136	(2)
Jewelry Care Guide	138	(3)
``Will You Marry Me?''	141	(32)
Planning the Perfect Proposal	142	(2)
Five Proposal Styles	144	(13)
Diamond Guy™ Seal of Approval	157	(2)
Soul Mate or Cell Mate?	159	(14)
Buying Your 2nd, 3rd or 4th Diamond	173	(6)
New Marriage	173	(1)
Replacement Diamond	174	(1)
Diamond Upgrades	175	(1)
Trade-Ins	176	(1)
Special Occasions and Gifts	177	(2)
How to Sell a Diamond	179	(8)
Appraisal	179	(1)
Rapaport Value	180	(1)
Buyers	181	(3)
Antique or ``Estate'' Jewelry	184	(3)
Anniversaries and Occasions	187	(4)
Natural Birthstones	190	(1)
Appendix A: And In Conclusion	191	(2)
Appendix B: The Alphabet Rules	193	(1)
Appendix C: Carat Size Charts	194	(3)
Appendix D: Glossary of Terms	197	(3)
Appendix E: Diamond Guy™ Q&A	200	(17)
Appendix F: Getting Into Shape	217	(10)
Appendix G: For Women Only	227	(16)
Appendix H: 101 Ways to Be Romantic	243	(14)
Index	257